Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer isn’t kidding herself. She knows her team is facing a juggernaut in No. 3 Connecticut this afternoon at the RAC and must do so with senior forward/center Chelsey Lee out indefinitely with a knee injury and two-time All-Big East forward/center Monique Oliver hobbled by a deep bone bruise in her ankle.

Barring a stunning upset, Stringer realizes her 900th career victory will likely have to wait.

"This is clearly one of the great powers in women’s basketball and they have been for a long time," said Stringer, who has lost nine straight to the Huskies. "They just got finished beating Duke, then the No. 4 team in the country, by 40-some points (actually 30 points on Jan. 21 at Gampel Pavilion). This is a well-oiled machine.

"I’m looking forward to seeing how our team responds. With nine freshmen and sophomores, it should be real interesting. But I like the fight and attitude we had in our last game and it was the freshmen and sophomores who were out there and they had that swagger I’m used to seeing in the Scarlet Knights."

Against DePaul, the Knights (14-9, 5-5 in Big East) came back from an 18-point second-half deficit, only to lose, 60-57, on a three-pointer with 10 seconds left to play.

The comeback was led by sophomore point guard Shakena Richardson, freshman forward Kahleah Copper and 6-4 freshman center Rachel Hollivay, who had a career-high 12 points and five rebounds.

The trio, along with sophomore forward Betnijah Laney, are important pieces to the Knights moving forward. Richardson is averaging 10.3 points and 5.0 assists in the past three games and Copper is putting up 7.3 points per game in the last seven. Laney is averaging 9.5 points this season.

"If not us, then who?" said Richardson, a Neptune native. "It’s at that point where you have to step up. We still have a lot to learn and it takes time. But sooner or later that’s not going to be an excuse anymore."

Hollivay, rated the No. 2 post player in the country by HoopGurlz coming out of Heritage Academy in Columbus, Miss., has played sparingly this season. But she’s expected to see plenty of action against Connecticut with Lee out and Oliver limited.

"It hasn’t been frustrating," said Hollivay. "I knew I had a lot to work on. I haven’t been upset at all. I’m just happy I got the opportunity to help my team."

The young Knights face a daunting task in Connecticut (23-1, 10-1), whose only loss came against No. 2 Notre Dame, 73-72, on Jan. 5 at Gampel Pavilion.

The Huskies, who bring do-everything 6-4 freshman sensation Breanna Stewart (13.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg) off the bench, lead the nation in scoring (83.8 ppg), scoring margin (36.9 ppg), defensive field-goal percentage (30.5) and is second in the country in fewest points allowed (52.4 ppg).

It’s been a frustrating season for Stringer. Rutgers is in danger of having its streak of 10 consecutive NCAA Tournament berths snapped this season and hasn’t reached the Sweet 16 since 2009.

Last week, Stringer blamed the team’s struggles this season on youth, injuries and a lack of talent — even though she has seven McDonald’s All-Americans on the roster. She said athletic director Tim Pernetti needs to "step up" and address her expiring contract, and pointed to the failures of the school’s other athletic teams. She called her critics "crazies" and told them to "just back the crap off."

The fallout from her statements and her pursuit of victory No. 900 has weighed on Stringer.

"I don’t mean to disrespect (900 wins)," Stringer said. "I realize it’s a milestone. But I can’t wait (to get it over). I just want to sigh. It’s not supposed to be like this."